Empty Bowls 2011
Christina Yarnell and husand Jay with Foodbank CEO Phyllis Haynes at Empty Bowls in our new warehouse
9th Annual “Empty Bowls” Gets $141,000 Boost;
New Warehouse Plays Host to Crowd of 600
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 8, 2011 – The Arkansas Foodbank’s ninth annual Empty Bowls dinner and charity auction got a boost when Arkansas Atty. Gen. Dustin McDaniel, co-host of the event with his wife Bobbie, presented a $141,000 check to Foodbank CEO Phyllis Haynes.
The money came to Arkansas as part of a 2010 multistate settlement with The Dannon Company over allegations of promoting its Activia yogurt and DanActive dairy drink products with unsubstantiated benefits. “I felt it was appropriate to designate these settlement funds to help feed hungry persons in our state,” said McDaniel in a prepared statement.
The event, which attracted 600 people who each paid the $50 admission, was held Thursday night at the Foodbank’s new warehouse at at 4301 West 65th Street. It featured a dinner of favorite dishes cooked by chefs at 14 local restaurants, a silent auction and a live auction. The event was emceed by Tom Brannon, co-host of “This Morning” on Today’s THV (Channel 11).
Along with dozens of items offered in live and silent auctions, four local artists painted works of art that were sold during the event. Stephano of Stephano’s Art Gallery in the Heights, served as auctioneer and offered his own pop-art portrait of Elizabeth Taylor in honor of the star’s recent death. Other artists included Jan Gartrell, Steve Griffith and Sandy Hubler.
Foodbank CEO Haynes said this is a very special year for the Foodbank as it moves into its new, larger warehouse and begins a push to double aid to hungry Arkansans in five years. Those who attended got a “sneak peek” at the new warehouse, featuring increased storage space and ergonomic loading docks. The $8 million warehouse was paid for with a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
14 restaurants were represented with dishes for the dinner that preceded the auction.. They were Bravo’s, Trio’s , Lilly’s Dim Sum Then Some, the Whole Hog Cafe, Tropical Smoothie, Dizzy’s, Cappriccio Grill, 1620, the Pantry, the Pampered Chef , ZaZa’s, Catering to You, the Golden Corral, and Ferneau.
The Arkansas Foodbank serves more than 300 food pantries, shelters, school feeding programs and soup kitchens that rely on the Foodbank for supplies, as well as providing supplies to the five other Feeding America food banks throughout the state.The Arkansas Foodbank is the largest nongovernment provider of donated food in Arkansas. It is a member of Feeding America and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.
Tom Brannon of Today's THV interviewed (from left) Peggy Vickers of the Arkansas Foodbank, and three of the artists participating in Empty Bowls Charity Auction & Dinner on April 7, Stephano, Sandy Hubler and Jan Gartrell. Brannon broadcast the morning show from our new warehouse and talked about the crisis in child hunger that is making helping the Foodbank a high priority. One in four or Arkansas' children experiences hunger.
See a video of the participating artists on YouTube.com by clicking here: Foodbank Video on Artists
Photo by Benjamin Krain
One of two amazing art bowls donated by Gail Miller of Miller's Mud Mill Potter Co., of Dumas, Ark., auctioned off at Empty Bowls on April 7.
Artists who will be painted live at the event include:
Stephano, owner of Stephano's art gallery in the Little Rock Heights section.
Jan Gartrell posing in front of one of her large abstract paintings.
Steve Griffith with a still life he had just completed at his studio in Conway.
Sandy Hubler, owner of "the Showroom art gallery in Little Rock, with one of her large oil paintings
And a big thank-you to all our corporate sponsors, without whose help none of this would be possible.
Sponsors:
